Vacuum trap



K. KIEFER VACUM TRAP Feb. 19 1924.

Filed June 14 Patented Feb., lg, i922@ e ruf KARL KEEFER, OF CXNCINNATI, OHIO.

VACUUM TRA?.

application lcd .Tune 14;,

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, Kani. KIEFER, a citizen orp the United States, and a resident or Cincinnati, in the county or Hamilton and State ot Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vacuum Traps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an apparatus `designed for the automatic removal of a liquid that accumulates in a closed system of vessels or pipes in which a sub-atmospheric pressure is maintained.

ln the accompanying drawing the ap paratus is shown in cross section and consists of a vessel divided into two compartments, an upper compartment A and a lower compartment B. ln the drawing the two vessels are represented as having cylindrical glass walls a and Zi. C is the coveroit the upper vessel, l) is an intermediate wall between the two vessels, and E is the bottom of the apparatus.

Rubber gaskets are placed on all edges of the glass cylinders, and a series of draw bolts ll and F are used to hold the two vessels together and maire them air Vand liquid tight by forcing bottom and top against the glass cylinders.

The top C has apertures G and ll, the latter leading to the exhaust pump and Cr connected with the system from which liquid is to be continuously removed. However, instead of leading to an exhaust pump, H could be connected to an upper part of the system of vessels or pipes in which is maintained a sub-atmospheric pressure.

The separating wall D carries in its center two valves K and L operating in respective bores. The bodies oit both K and L are flu-.ted so as to permit air to pass by and allow free movement within the bores. rlhe bore in which the valve lil operates is closed on the top by means or a plug 2. rlhe valve part proper o1C the valve l is on its lower end and it can open or close the small opening 3, giving access ot the lower valve chamber B by means of a bore G in the intermediate wall D to the exterior atmosphere. rlhis is the position shown in the drawing where the valve K has been lifted by means of a disc shaped projection T carried by a float M. rlhis projection T is engaged by stop 5, to prevent the float from falling too ar downward when there is no liquid in chamber B.

ieee. sensi ivo. scese?.

Float M is directly connected to the valve L. rlhe valve proper of L is at its upper end and can open and close opening 2l, giving access of air in the upper part of chamber B to the upper part of chamber A by means of tube N. ln the position shown this opening 4 is closed as the float M is raised by the liquid which it is shown as having accumulated in the lower chamber B.

ln the separating wall D is another aperture P extending -into the lower chamber B and carrying at its lowest end a check valve Q. This check valve is so constructed that liquid can descend from chamber A to chamber B, but it cannot ascend therein.

A similar tube lt is fastened in the bot tom E of the lower chamber, and a check valve S is provided which will allow the descent of liquid in chamber B to the atmosphere, but will close itself as soon as the sub-atmospheric pressure is produced within chamber B.

Chamber A being connected by intalre G with a system of pipes or vessels under subatmospheric pressure, it therefore always shows the same sub-atmospheric pressure. lr" any liquid accumulates in the system oi pipes or vessels it will flow through the intake G into the chamber A.

lt we suppose now that the valve L is open and the valve is closed (which is the opposite position from that shown in the drawing), then it will be seen that the same sub-atmospheric pressure will prevail in the chamber B as in chamber A because there is a communication and an eichange ci pressures by means of tube N and valve opening 4f. Valve K shuts oli" the chamber B from the atmosphere by closing the passage G. Both chambers A and B being now of sub-atmospheric pressure, the liquid that accumulates in A will descend into the lower chamber by gravity through the aperture P, opening the check valve Q and rise in the lower chamber.

lin consequence thereof the float M will rise and by its increasing buoyancy will nally overcome the atmospheric pressure upon the valve l and open same by means of projection T, at the same time raising valve L and closing opening e. rl`his action interrupts the connection between the chambers A and B and opens the lower cham ber B through the passage O to the atmosphere. Air will rush into the chamber B until an atmospheric pressure is established therein whereupon the liquid in B Will descend through the aperture R and check valve S into the open. The liquid Will flow out until it cannot carry any longer the float M in its high position, whereupon ioat M drops, reversing again the two valves, repeating this operation as long as there is any liquid coming from the system of pipes or vessels to be drained by the apparatus shown.

It is important that the valves should be opened and closed quickly. `The rise and fall of the float M should not therefore bea gradual one, so that it may not, for instance, stay 1in apneutral 'position whereby`beth v'alves are open. This is easily attained by proportioning the area of the valves s that not only thevveight ofthe valves themselves has to be overcome, but also the atmospheric and sub-atmospheric pressure pressingu'p'on these valves.

It is Well known that valves of the form shown herein require a certainpressure to lift from their seats, but 'after being lifted therefrom it takes very littleeffort tohold them Within the neighborhood of'their Seats. If the buoyancy -of the float M be suliicient to vovercome the Aatmospheric pressure upon valve K besides its own weight, and the Weight of the float must be suilicient to over come the sub-atmospheric. pressure exerted upon valve L when the liquid sinksv in the chamber d3, either valve Will completely o-pen suddenly after having been retarded in'itsclosed position by the excess of pressure on one side,'and the other valve will be 'allowed to close at the same time. The area 'of these l valves, therefore, depends somewhat upon the degree of vacuum that is maintained inichamber A. This area must be' smaller for greater vacuum and enlarged for lovv degree of vacuum. This dispenses with springs or'the like to effect quick complete closure or, opening of either valveA K or Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1.` In a vacuum trap, the combination of a Vchamber alvvays under sub-atmospheric pressure, With' a chamber alternately under sub-atmospheric and atmosphericy pressure,

said chambers having a singleseparating` Wall, and means entirely within said cha-mbers, mounted in said `Wall, for transferring liquid accumulating in the first mentioned chamber to the atmosphere. Y

2. A vacuum trap having a constantly sub-atmospheric chamber and an intermittently sub-atmospheric chamber with a pas sage from one chamber to the other, a float in one chamber, and a valve to control said passage, pneumatically retarded for sudden opening by the Weight of said float.

A vacuumtrap having aconstantly passage, Ventirely v Within said chambers, Y

pneumatically retarded for sudden opening b-f the Weight of said float.

l'A vacuum trap h'aving a constantlyV sub-atmospheric chamber and an intermittently sub-atmospheric chamber, this latter chamber having an atmospheric passage and having a sub-atmospheric passage from one chamber to the other, a float, and valves alternately closed and opened by said tioat'for controlling the respective passages, said valves having their Weights and 'areas so proportioned to said floatand to the constant pressure reduction that they are completely opened by said float suddenly after being retarded by pneumatic pressure.

6. A vacuum trap having a constantly sub-,atmospheric ch'amber and an intermittently sub-atmospheric chamber withl asingle Wall between them, this latter chamber having an atmospheric passage and having a sub-atmospheric passage from oneV ch'amber tothe other through said Wall, .a vfloat, and valves entirely' Within saidchambers, mounted inV said Wall, alternately closed and opened by said flo'atfor controlling the respective passages. f Y

7. fr vacuum trap having a constantly sub-atmospheric chamber and an intermittently sub-atmospheric chamber, this latter chamberL hav-ing an atmospheric passage and having a sub-atmospheric passage from Vone chamber to the other, a float, and valves entirely Within said chambers, alternately closed and opened by said iioat for controlling the respective passages, said 'valves having their Weights and areas so proportioned to said float and to the constant pressure reduction that they are completely opened suddenly by said float after'being retarded by pneumatic pressure.

8. Ai vacuum trap having an upper chainber, and having a lower chamber with a liquid passage and an air passage from one chamberto the other, a float in said lower chamber, and a valve controlling said air passage, said valve having its Weight and area vso proportioned to said float and to` Cil ber and a lower chamber with a liquid passage and an air passage from one chamber to the other, entirely within said chambers, and a float in said lower chamber controllingsaid airpassage.

10. lli vacuum trap comprisinga chamber alternately under atmospheric pressure and sub-atmospheric pressure, having a4 submerged valve opening to admit liquid and an opening to discharge liquid.

1l. A vacuum trap having an upper chamber and a lower chamber, said lower chamber having an atmospheric passage and having a sub-atmospheric passage from one chamber to the other, a vertically sliding float, and vertically sliding valves, one unitary with said float and the other engaged by said float, whereby saidV valves are operated by said :doat to control the respective passages.

12. A vacuum trap comprising a receptacle with a chamber continuously closed to the atmosphere and open to pressure-reducing means, and automatically actuated discharge means mounted entirely on one inclosing part of said chamber and entirely within said receptacle, for discharging liquid roin'said chamber .vithout materially affecting the constantly reduced pressure condition in said chamber.

i3. A vacuum trap comprising a receptacle with a chamber continuously closed to the ing means, and liquid-controlled means mounted entirely on one inclosing part of said chamber and entirely within said receptacle, for discharging liquid from said chamber without materially affecting the constantly reduced pressure condition in said chamber.

14. A vacuum trap comprising a twochambered receptacle with a partition between the chambers having an opening from one chamber to the other, a pressurereducing connection to one of said chambers, closed oil' from the other chamber except through said one chamber, a valve mounted entirely on said partition and entirely within said receptacle for controlling said opening, and a float in one of said chambers, mounted entirely on said valve, for controlling said valve for discharge of liquid from said chambers without materially affecting the constantly. reduced pressure condition in said one chamber.

15. fr vacuum trap comprising a twochambered receptacle with an opening from one chamber to the other', a pressure-reducing connection to one of said chambers, closed oli from the other chamber except through said one chamber, a lioat in one of said chambers. and a valve completely opened suddenly by said float, after being retarded in closing position by pneumatic pressure, for discharging liquid from said atmosphere and open to pressure-reduc-V chambers without materially aecting the constantly reduced pressure condition 'in said one chamber.

16. A vacuum trap comprising a receptacle with a chamber continuously closed to the atmosphere and open to pressure-reducing means, and automatically and suddenly entirely rectilinearly actuated discharge means entirely within said receptacle for discharging liquid from said chamber without materially ailecting the constantly reduced pressure condition in said chamber.

17. A vacuum trap comprising a receptacle with a chamber continuously closed to the atmosphere and open to pressure-reducing means, and means pneumatically retarded from a movement to discharge liquid from said chamber and having said movement suddenly completed by gravity, to discharge said liquid without materially affecting the constantly reduced pressure condition in said chamber.

18. A vacuum trap comprising a partition separating two chambers therein, one chamber having a pressure-reducing connection and the other chamber having a liquid-outlet, said partition having a liquid passage and an air passage from one chamber to the other, and having an interior space closed oft" trom the one chamber and av port from this space to the exterior of the trap, this space havinga passage into said other chamber, a valve controlling this passage and opening away from this other chamber, a valve controlling said air passage between the two chambers and opening inwardly toward this other chamber, and a float in this other chamber alternately opening these valves.

19. A vacuum trap comprising a partition separating two chambers therein, one chamber having a pressure-reducing connection and the other chamber having a liquid outlet, said partition having a liquid passage and an air passage from one chamber to the other, and having an interior-space closed od from the one chamber and a port from this space to the exterior of the trap, this space having a passage into said other chamber, elongated valve elements sliding lengthwise in said air passage and said interior space, respectively, and opening, respectively, inwardly tov ard said other chamber and away from this other chamber, each of said valve elements having an extension into this other chamber, and a float in this other chamber, mounted directly on the eX- tension or the valve element that opens away from this chamber and adapted to engage the extension of the other valve element, so that either valve is closed as the other is opened, by alternate movements of said float.

20. A vacuum trap comprising a receptacle with two chambers,

vacuum and pressure'connections with the respective chambers7 air and liquid connections between the chambers, oppositely opening valves to control said pressure and air connections, respectively, the pressure tending to seat said valves, and liquid-controlled means within said'receptacle operatively related `to said valves to close'either valve while opening the other.

.21. A vacuum trap comprising a receptacle with' two chambers, vacuum and pressure connections with the respective chambers, air and liquid connections between the chambers, oppositely opening valves to control said pressure and air connections, respectively, entirely within said receptacle, the pressure tending to seat said valves, and liquid-controlled means within said receptacle operatively related to said valves to close either valve while opening the other.

22. A vacuum trap comprising a recep-V tacle with two chambers, vacuum and pressure connections with the respective chambers, air and liquid connections between the chambers, oppositely opening valves, having adjacent extensions, said valves controlling said pressure and air connections, respectively, the pressure tending to seat said valves, and liquid controlled means connected to the extension of the air-connection controlling valve and engaging with ordisengaging from the extension of the other valve as the air-connection controlling valve is closed or opened, respectively, to open this other valve or allow it to close. Y

23. A vacuum trap comprising two chambers, one communicating with the other and also with the atmosphere, two oppositely opening valves controlling the communications between the chambers and the atmospheric communication, respectively, said valves beingv seated by atmospheric pressure, and a float connected to the inter-cham ber valve and engageable with or disengageable from the other valve.

243A vacuum trap comprising'a partition and having two chambers separated by and immediately adjoining said partition, and means controlling communication between the chambers, mounted entirely on said partition, one of said chambers having a pressure reducing connection closed oii" from the other chamber except through said one chamber under the control of said controlling means.

KARL KIEFER.

Witnesses M. A. HARRINGTON,

E. E. FINGH. 

